Tag Archives: George Clooney

I have to admit I’m getting excited about this series of MAFSS. I love to learn from my friends and I can’t think of a better way then to pick their brains. The guests of honor are starting to arrive and I’m happy to say Welcome!

Our second guest on this series of My Amazing Friends Success Stories also known as MAFSS is an accomplished IT saleman, husband and father.

He’s not only got a gorgeous wife, he’s got great kids who are involved in academics, athletics and music at secondary school.

His accolades include working for International Business Machines (IBM), attending the University of Southern California (USC) and having lived on both US coasts.

He’s also a two time Ironman who has taught me about putting mind over matter.

Without further ado, ladies and germs, I mean gents, Dave Henn.

Ironman Run Swim Bike

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am 50 years old, was born in New York, and at the age of 5, moved to California. I have been married for over 21 years to my best friend. We have two children, Olivia and Nick, who I adore and admire.

How do you define success? Success, to me, is the completion of goals set. Period. It does not matter if it was to ride a bike, or swim a long distance, raise money or complete a course. It is the act of finishing that to me, is successful and significant.

I remember the day I felt that I had finally made it in my life. It was the day I had my 25 year reunion with my study abroad program. I looked around and thought, wow, that’s a pretty darn successful group, then I realized I was part of it. How about you? What was your I made it moment? Great question. I think the day my wife and I attended our first sales trip together in Cancun was a realization that I had become significant. It was the first time that we could actually plan for retire and college funds where before we struggled month to month. That was in 1993.

Ironman championship in Clearwater, Fla. There are 31 events around the world that qualify athletes for the Ironman World Championship 7Ironman 70.3 races consist of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1 mile run, which adds up to 70.3 miles of total racing.

Have you ever come across an obstacle in your path to where you are today? Can you describe it to me and tell us how you got over it? I am in sales on 100% commission. Obstacles are everywhere ~ the economy, difficult people, timing, etc.

The one thing that I always fall back on was my completion of the Hawaiian Ironman, and the struggles I went though to complete it. I now look at obstacles as opportunities to again develop solutions I can then look back on when I encounter another one.

Since completing my second Ironman, I have found that nothing is impossible to overcome regardless of what it looks like at the time ~ neither money, or health, or business ~  but you must believe. You must believe in yourself enough.

As I always tell my kids, You either think you can or you think you cant. Either way, you’re right.

In terms of education, did you find a university degree was necessary in obtaining your dreams or goals? What was? I went to USC thinking I wanted to become a patent attorney. I thought, that was going to be the way to achieve security and stability in my life. I was working as a sales intern for IBM to help pay my way and they offered me a job in my senior year and I accepted it.

However, now that I have been in Information Technology for 30 years, I realized that the education helped me establish a way to organize myself, and to learn ways to obtain knowledge, but I think the life lessons along this road have been more valuable than any I learned in school.

What are you currently working on? I am currently working on developing new IT solutions with my customers to keep pace with the changing needs of their customers. It is a rewarding job that always gives me an opportunity to see what really is happening behind the scenes in some of the largest companies in the world.

Can you tell me about someone you admire and why? Bill Bell. He is not a name that is famous or has achieved fortune. Bill Bell is a 86 year old man who is as humble as he is successful.

At almost age 60, he took up endurance sports. How driven is he? He has participated in over 158 marathons and ultramarathons, over 32 Ironman Triathlons, and 33 half-Ironman triathlons, rode his bike TWICE from coast to coast (CA-NY), swam from Newport Beach to Catalina and BACK.

The list goes on and on.

What I find so admirable is his humbleness. There are few in the world that have done so much who stay out of the limelight and inspire others. I met this man in 2000 and he touched my life and the life of my family in such a special way, that he will never be forgotten.

Would you like to give me a word of advice on obtaining goals?
Not one word, but a few. Write it down. Your subconscious
is directly impacted by your conscious actions. Without writing it down, it is not real. Once you do, strap in and focus. You will achieve it.

Big Bang or Evolution? Believer in God the Almighty. Creator of heaven and earth. Enough said.

George Clooney or Brad Pitt? I think Brad, but only because his wife is so hot.

Angeline Jolie or Jennifer Aniston? Kind of answered that above ~ Angelina.

Left handed or right? Right.

Existentialist or Fatalist? I believe there is a purpose in life and a heaven after.

Afterlife or end of life? Afterlife of course.

Champagne, beer, both or other? Small bubbled Champagne.

Cowboys or Aliens? Hilarious question. Cowboys.

Dave and Brenda’s great kids performing. For more videos shee DH’s video channel at DHenn135

Thank you so much for dropping by. If you are interested in participating in out MAFSS series drop us an email at jangelos1@gmail.com and write MAFSS in subject line.